George a



(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. A. KENNEDY.

GAR COUPLING.

No. 461,635. Patented Oct. 20,1891.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

G. A. KENNEDY. GAR COUPLING.

No. 461,635. Patented Oct. 20, 1891.

"I!!!"llllllllIf"llllllllflllflllllllll v UNITED STATES PATENT QEEIcE.

GEORGE A. KENNEDY, on DENVER, coLoRADo AssIGNoR OF FIVE-EIGHTHS TOPHILIP L. BOOKFINGER, GEoRGE w. THORP, AND CURTIS M. WATER- MAN, ALL OFSAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SZPEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 461,635, dated October20, 1891.

Application filed April 24, 1891. Serial No. 390,316. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

De it known that I, GEORGE A. KENNEDY, a c1t1 zen of the United States,residing at Denver, 1n the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado,have invented a new and useful Oar- Coupler, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to car-couplings, and moreespecially to thatclass thereof known as pin-supports, and the object of the same 1s toeffect certain improvements in car-couplings of this character.

To this end the invention consists in the specific details ofconstruction hereinafter more I5 fully described and claimed, and asillustrated on the two sheets of drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a sideelevation, and Fig. 2 a front elevation, of this improved car-coupling,with the pin in its lowered position. Fig. 3 is a central longitudinalsection of the drawbar and draw-head, showing the pin raised. Fig. 4 isan enlarged perspective detail'of the supporting-catch. Fig. 5 is a planview. Referring to the said drawings, the letter L 5 designates theframe or casing within which the draw-bar M is secured, said draw-barhaving a vertical eye D at its front end.

L are longitudinal bars of the casing, outside of which are arrangedstays M, and V 3 is a transverse bolt passing through the front ends ofthese stays, through L-shaped straps N at the corners of the casing,through the rear end of the draw-head A, and through the eye D. Saidrear end of the draw-head is provided with a horizontal eye D, wherebythe draw-head is allowed a slight longitudinal movement on thetransverse bolt V. The rear end of the draw-head is bifurcated andloosely embraces the eye D, whereby it is al- 4 lowed a slight verticalmovement. Through the draw-head is a bolt R, which'passes also throughslots 0 in the straps N, and Whose ends are connected by contractilesprings B with the front end of the frame. This per- 4 5 mits thedraw-head to have a slight longitudinal movement, so that the eye D willslide over the bolt ,V.

The interior of the mouth of the draw-head coupled to another which ishigher or lower.

Through the draw-head moves a vertical pin P, which passes through thelink in the usual manner and is adapted to lock the same in thedraw-head. The latter is about balanced on its bolt B when the link isin its front end, so that-it shall have a rocking motion over said boltand will thereby afford a very steady and even draft for the cars asthey rise and fall under the conditions of ordinary railroad travel.

On the upper side of the draw-head is a bracket K, and I preferablyconnect to this bracket a laterally-extending supplemental bracket F.

E is a horizontal rod, having depending perforated ears e, which arepivotally connected by bolts to the upper ends of the brackets, and thisarm has a forward extension E, pivotallyconnected by a link J with theupper end of the pin P. \Vhen the handle J at the outer end of this rodis turned by an operator standing alongside the track,- it is obviousthe pin will be raised.

H is a short arm projecting from the rod E, and 1-1 is a rod pivoted tothe arm H and extending upwardly to the top of the car, if the latter bea box-car, and there provided with a handle J When this handle is drawnupon, the rod E will be oscillated to raise the arm E and the pin P thesame as if the handle J were twisted.

The letter G designates a catch, which is of approximately L shape, withstub-shafts g projecting from its angle, and the said shafts arejournaled in notches Q in the bracket K. The latter is bifurcated, asshown, and within such bifurcation the catch G works. Upon the inner endof the arm E is a projecting tongue T of about the shape shown, whichengages with a notch U in the upper end of the catch G when the arm E israised and immediately below this tongue is a longer tongue orprojection T, as shown. The inner end of the catch is weighted, as atW".

IVith the above construction of parts, when two draw-heads come togetherthe bolts R move to the rear in the slot 0 and dist nd the springs B,the longitudinal eyes D moving over the bolts V in a manner which willbe clear. The link may be tilted to cause it to enter the mouth of anapproaching draw-head, and the entire draw-head may be rocked upon itsbolt R, which passes through it at about its center. The link may beengaged with or disengaged from the pin by moving the latter in themanner above described, and when the pin is raised the tongue T engagesthe notch U of the catch G and holds it raised. When it is desired todrop the pin to pass it through a link, the handle J or J is furtherslightly moved, so as to cause the projection T to throw the upper .endof the catch G forward to disengage the notch U from the tongue T, andbefore the weighted end W of the catch can fall again the rod E isturned in the opposite direction to shoot the pin downwardly through thelink.

hat is claimed as new is- 1. In a car-coupling, the combination, with adraw-bar M, havinga vertical eye D in its front end, a draw-head Ahaving a longitudinal eye D in its bifurcated rear end, looselyembracing the eye in the draw-bar, and a bolt through said eyes, of atransverse pivot-bolt B through said draw-head, and springs B,connecting this bolt with the car, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head having avertical pin-opening, a pin therein, alink,and a bifurcated bracket inrear of said opening, of an arm E, pivoted in the upper end of saidbracket and connected at its outer end with the link, said arm having atongue T and a projection T, an L-shaped catch G, having aweighted rearend, said catch being pivoted in the bracket and its upper end providedwith a notch U, adapted to engage the tongue above said projection, andmeans, substantially as described, for operating the arm'E, all as andfor the purpose hereinbeforc set forth.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination, with the draw-head provided witha vertical pinopening, the pinin said opening, and the link, of abracket rising from the draw-head in rear of the pin, alaterally-extendin g supplemental bracket mounted thereon, a transverserod having depending perforated ears, bolts passing through saidperforations and through the brackets, an arm projecting forwardly fromsaid rod and connected with the pin, and means, substantially asdescribed, for operating said rod, as and for the purpose hereinbeforeset forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my ownI have hereto aflixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE A. KENNEDY.

\Vitnesses:

H. S. BURTON, O. M. THOMPSON.

